Limonium plant named ‘DANLIMECNT’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Limonium plant named ‘DANLIMECNT’ is disclosed, characterized by abundant, brilliant purple flowers and reduced fragility. The new variety is a Limonium, typically produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Limonium perezii.

Variety denomination: ‘DANLIMECNT’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Limonium cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce newLimonium varieties for ornamental horticultural production. Theopen-pollination resulting in this new variety was made during spring of2016.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to asLimonium ‘LPE-15-25’. The pollen parent is unknown. The new variety wasdiscovered in spring of 2017 by the inventor in a group of seedlingsresulting from the 2016 open-pollination, in a greenhouse in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual propagation of Limonium ‘DANLIMECNT’ was performed by tissueculture in May of 2018, at a research laboratory in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel. Subsequent asexual propagation has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations. Extensive confidential testing has beenperformed to determine and define the desirable characteristics of thenew variety.

Date of first sale is Feb. 20, 2022, in Kenya. This sale was madedirectly by the inventor or one who obtained the claimed inventiondirectly or indirectly from the inventor. This sale and all publicdisclosures made between Feb. 20, 2022, and the filing of thisapplication fall within the exception allowed under 102(b)(1).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANLIMECNT’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DANLIMECNT’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DANLIMECNT’ as a new and distinct Limoniumcultivar:

-   -   1. Abundant flowering.    -   2. Brilliant purple flower color.    -   3. Reduced fragility; stronger stems.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of ‘DANLIMECNT’ are similar in some horticultural characteristicsto the seed parent. The new variety, however, differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are darker in color than flowers        of the seed parent.    -   2. Plants of the new variety are less fragile than plants of the        seed parent.    -   3. Flower stems of the new variety are longer than flower stems        of the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISONS

Plants of ‘DANLIMECNT’ are similar in some horticultural characteristicsto the variety Limonium ‘Safora Oshi Pink’, unpatented. The new variety,however, differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are purple, while flowers of this        comparator are pink.    -   2. Inflorescences of the new variety are shaped as is typical of        the perezii species, clumping and nearly rounded; inflorescences        of this comparator are more open and flattened.    -   3. Leaves of the new variety are ovate shaped, while leaves of        this comparator are pinnately lobed.

Plants of ‘DANLIMECNT’ are similar in some horticultural characteristicsto the variety Limonium ‘Safora Blue Tiful’, unpatented. The newvariety, however, differs in the following:

-   -   1. Flowers of the new variety are darker in color than flowers        of this comparator.    -   2. Inflorescences of the new variety are shaped as is typical of        the perezii species, clumping and nearly rounded; inflorescences        of this comparator are more open and flattened.    -   3. Leaves of the new variety are ovate shaped, while leaves of        this comparator are pinnately lobed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical inflorescence of ‘DANLIMECNT’ harvested from a plant at about 9months of age, grown in the ground.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of typical flowers of the newvariety. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques andalthough colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DANLIMECNT’ plants grown in a greenhouse inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurementswere taken during Autumn. The growing temperature ranged fromapproximately 18° C. to 27° C. during the days, 10° C. to 15° C. duringthe nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Limonium perezii ‘DANLIMECNT’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate rooting: Comes with roots while they are in tissue    culture. Approximately 10 to 15 days to produce more roots in plugs,    with temperature range of 10° C.-30° C.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 9 months.-   Root description: Woody, strong. Colored RHS Olive-Gray 197B.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Perennial.-   Height: Approximately 15 cm to top of foliar plane. Approximately 70    cm to top of floral plane.-   Plant spread: Approximately 40 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderately vigorous.-   Branching characteristics: Non-branching.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Basal rosette.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 60 to 100.        -   Average length.—27 cm.        -   Average width.—8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Top Surface: Smooth and powdery. Bottom Surface:            Smooth.        -   Aspect.—Outward.        -   Color.—Young Foliage, Upper Side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            Foliage, Under Side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature Foliage,            Upper Side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Mature Foliage,            Under Side: Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Venation.—Type: Linear. Color, Upper Side: Near RHS Green            138A. Color, Under Side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 148C.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 13 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Summer to autumn.-   Flower stems per plant: Average range 8 to 9.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Erect, stable, compound    corymb with wings on pedicel.-   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 7 days.-   Longevity as cut flower: 10 to 15 days.-   Flowers per inflorescence: 125.-   Average inflorescences per plant: 8 to 9.-   Inflorescence size:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 8 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 5 cm.-   Individual flowers:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Tubular, partially fused.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Violet N88B.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—5 in a single whorl.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Retuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Color.—When Opening: Upper Surface: Near RHS White 155A.            Lower Surface: Near RHS White 155A. Fully Opened: Upper            Surface: Near RHS White 155A. Lower Surface: Near RHS White            155A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Fused, calyx cup-shaped.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Semi-tubular.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Apex.—Truncate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Appearance.—Matte.        -   Color.—Fully Opened: Upper Surface: Near RHS Violet N87C.            Lower Surface: Near RHS Violet 90C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.9 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4-cm.        -   Texture.—Slightly pubescent.        -   Angle.—Approximately 40° to 80°.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 143A.-   Pedicels/secondary peduncles:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Aspect.—Outward.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 143A.-   Fragrance: Absent or weak.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 5. Filament Length: Approximately 0.7 cm.            Filament Color: Near RHS White 155B.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Elliptical. Length: About 0.1 cm. Color: RHS            Yellow 9C. Pollen: Color: Near RHS Green-Yellow 1C. Amount:            Abundant.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Pistil.—Quantity: 5 per flower. Length: Approximately            0.4 cm. Style Color: Near RHS White 155D. Stigma: Shape:            Capitate. Color: Near RHS White 155D. Ovary Color: Near RHS            White 155D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: One single seed per flower, stiff and black,    closest to RHS 202A. About 0.1 cm in size.-   Disease/pest resistance: Typical resistance and susceptibility to    diseases and pests common to Limonium.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from 10° C. to 35° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Limonium plantnamed ‘DANLIMECNT’ as herein illustrated and described.